Lori A. Phillips
Lori A. Phillips
Director of Business Strategy | Discover Financial Services
Lori A. Phillips has excelled at Discover Financial Services—the owners and operators of Discover Bank—for more than two decades, beginning in 1998. Her longevity and success within the company is marked by her fearless approach to challenges and her strategic execution of tasks—in addition to resilience, adaptability, and consistently pushing forward—deliberately beginning her journey at the grassroots level and climbing the ranks through hard work and dedication.
Ms. Phillips launched her career as an administrative assistant before quickly advancing to the role of Chief of Staff, which she still holds today. She’s responsible for overseeing business strategy, reporting directly to the Vice President regarding information security and technology risk and managing various teams under her purview. This includes leading the Technology Information Risk Committee, organizing internal governance meetings, and maintaining the portfolio of internal initiatives. Additionally, she heads a Policy and Standards Team. She oversees data governance for the corporate risk management group, ensuring compliance and efficiency in this area.
In addition, Ms. Phillips served in several positions at the company over the years, including the Senior Manager in the Business Information Security Office, the Senior Manager of Information Security Governance and Risk, and—since 2022—she’s been active as the Director of Business Strategy. She assists the Vice President in managing all departmental deliverables, supports the entire information risk department, and is responsible for policies and standards, collaborating with cybersecurity partners, and attending quarterly meetings with regulators and regulatory bodies. As a testament to her value, she’s won three President Plate Awards from the company.
Ms. Phillips’ professional journey was carved by a strong educational path. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1993. She later bolstered her credentials in the midst of her career with an Executive Certificate in Leadership and Management from the Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed by coursework in Strategy Execution and Disruptive Strategy at Harvard Business School.
Looking ahead, Ms. Phillips is setting her sights on the next level, targeting a vice president position or a strategic oversight role. She aspires to leverage her deep knowledge and proven track record to lead a department independently or become a trusted adviser, guiding senior leadership with her insightful perspective. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, going to the beach, and spending time with her family, including two sons.
Press Release
Marquis Who’s Who Honors Lori A. Phillips for Expertise in Financial Services
Lori A. Phillips is recognized for her lengthy career in the financial services sector as a director of business strategy
BONITA SPRINGS, FL, June 03, 2024 — Lori A. Phillips has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Phillips has carved a distinguished career in the financial services industry, currently serving as a Director of Business Strategy at Discover Financial Services since 2022. In this role, she assists the Vice President as Chief of Staff in supporting the entire information risk department and manages all departmental deliverables. Ms. Phillips’s responsibilities include handling all regulatory components associated with exam management, attending quarterly meetings with regulators and regulatory bodies, and being responsible for policies and standards related to information security. This includes overseeing over 15 policies and standards, collaborating with cybersecurity partners and technology partners to ensure effective management of these documents, as well as fulfilling stewardship and committee reporting duties.
Before being named as her firm’s Director, Ms. Phillips began her career as an Administrative Assistant, a position she began in 1998. Her tenure at Discover Financial Services previously included serving as the Senior Manager of Information Security Governance and Risk from 2018 to 2022 and the Senior Manager in the Business Information Security Office (BISO) between 2016 and 2022. Throughout her two decades with the company, Ms. Phillips has demonstrated exceptional project management skills, earning her recognition as an expert in her field.
Ms. Phillips’s academic background laid a solid foundation for her career achievements. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the State University of New York in Plattsburgh in 1993. Further enhancing her expertise, she obtained an executive certificate in leadership and management from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed coursework in strategy execution and disruptive strategy at Harvard University. These educational pursuits have significantly contributed to Ms. Phillips’s fearless approach to challenges and strategic task execution.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Ms. Phillips is deeply committed to building relationships with clients and colleagues and is not afraid to dive into her work head-on. As such, Ms. Phillips’s contributions have been recognized through several awards, including being a three-time recipient of the Discover Financial President Award.
